Systems and Methods for Electroporation Devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for electroporation catheters are disclosed herein. An electroporation catheter includes a shaft, and a plurality of splines forming a basket around a distal portion of the shaft, wherein each spline of the plurality of splines comprises at least one energizable electrode. The electroporation catheter further includes a balloon positioned within the basket formed by the plurality of splines, the balloon comprising at least one radiopaque marking.

1 . An electroporation catheter comprising:
 a shaft;   a plurality of splines forming a basket around a distal portion of the shaft, wherein each spline comprises at least one energizable electrode; and   a balloon positioned within the basket formed by the plurality of splines, the balloon being selectively inflatable, and wherein the balloon comprises at least one radiopaque marking.   
     
     
         2 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the radiopaque marking comprises an elastic radiopaque ink and the radiopaque marking is configured to expand or contract as the balloon expands or contracts. 
     
     
         3 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the radiopaque marking is asymmetric. 
     
     
         4 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the radiopaque marking is applied to an inner diameter of the balloon. 
     
     
         5 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the radiopaque marking is applied to an outer diameter of the balloon. 
     
     
         6 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the radiopaque marking is embedded into the material of the balloon. 
     
     
         7 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the balloon comprises at least two radiopaque markings. 
     
     
         8 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one radiopaque marking is applied by pad printing. 
     
     
         9 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one radiopaque marking is applied by painting. 
     
     
         10 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one radiopaque marking comprises a radiopaque ink applied during manufacturing. 
     
     
         11 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  wherein each spline extends between a proximal end that is coupled to the shaft and distal end that is coupled to the shaft, and wherein the shaft comprises:
 an outer shaft element; and 
 an inner shaft element extending through the outer shaft element, wherein the distal end of each spline is operatively connected to a distal end of the inner shaft element, wherein the proximal end of each spline is connected to a distal end of the outer shaft element, and wherein the inner shaft element is slidable relative to the outer shaft element to adjust an effective diameter of the basket formed by the plurality of splines. 
 
     
     
         12 . The electroporation catheter of  claim 1  further comprising a valve for selectively deflating and inflating the balloon to occupy the space within the plurality of splines. 
     
     
         13 . A balloon for an electroporation system, the balloon being selectively inflatable, the balloon comprising at least one radiopaque marking. 
     
     
         14 . The balloon of  claim 13  wherein the radiopaque marking comprises an elastic radiopaque ink and the radiopaque marking is configured to expand or contract as the balloon expands or contracts. 
     
     
         15 . The balloon of  claim 13  wherein the radiopaque marking is asymmetric. 
     
     
         16 . The balloon of  claim 13  wherein the radiopaque marking is applied to an inner diameter of the balloon. 
     
     
         17 . The balloon of  claim 13  wherein the radiopaque marking is applied to an outer diameter of the balloon. 
     
     
         18 . The balloon of  claim 13  wherein the radiopaque marking is embedded into the material of the balloon. 
     
     
         19 . The balloon of  claim 13  wherein the balloon comprises at least two radiopaque markings. 
     
     
         20 . An electroporation system comprising:
 a generator; and   a catheter coupled to the generator, the catheter comprising:
 a handle; 
 a shaft extending distally from the handle; 
 a plurality of splines forming a basket around a distal portion of the shaft, wherein each spline comprises at least one energizable electrode; and 
 a balloon positioned within the basket formed by the plurality of splines, the balloon comprising at least one radiopaque marking.